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(No Model.)

J. E. 'WILKIE.

AMBULANCE.

No. 273,925. Patented Mar. 13,1883.

JOHN E. WILKIE,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN P. BARRETT, OF SAME PLACE.

AMBULANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,925, dated March 13, 1883. Application filed October 7,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John E. WILKIE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented Improvements. in Ambulance-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stretchers for ambulances; and it consists in a stretcher of canvas, having its edges formed with a wide hem,

through which are run the handles for carrying it, and provided with side openings for the passage of a hook, whereby the stretcher,when in use, may be suspendedon removable hooks 1 between the seats of an ambulance, and readily rolled up when not needed, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an ambulance bed or body prepared for the reception of a sick or injured person; and Fig. 2 is a similar view in detail, showing the mode of suspending the stretcher.

A represents an ambulance provided with the usual side seats, A. These seats are on 0 their inner faces provided at suitable intervals with broad staples a, in each of which is placed a book, to, having a square or flat base or shank which enters the staple a and holds the hook firmly in position. 5 B represents a rectangular sheet of canvas, of proper size to fit between the seats of the ambulance, and provided or formed along each side with a wide hem, b, which is cut or notched out at suitable intervals on each side,

as seen at 1). Through these lieins b are passed wooden bars or handles 0, which keep the canvas stifl, and by which it may be carried about.

When not in use the stretcher is rolled up into small compass and stowed beneath one of the seats A, as are also the hooks to. When required for use the hooks are slipped into place, the stretcher unrolled, and the injured person placed upon it. It is then lifted into the ambulance and suspended upon the books a, the points of which pass through the openings b and do not injure the canvas. This makes avery easy means of transporting a sick person, being very free from thejolts and jars which usually annoy them. When itis desired to remove the person from the ambulance it may readily be done and carried to any place and laid on a bed, and if too badly injured to be moved the bars C may be withdrawn and leave the canvas behind. The whole consti- 6o tutes a very inexpensive and handy stretcher for use in an ambulance or wagon.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaini as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with an ambulance, A, having staples a (t and detachable hooks a. a, of the canvas stretcher B, having hemmed sides I), provided with notches 6'1), and the handles 0 O,passed through the hemmed sides of the stretcher and adapted to be supported on the books a a, substantially as described.

In testimony wliereofI atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. \VILKIE.

Vitnesses:

W. O. MOARTHUR, CHAS. KRESSMANN. 

